A Reverie of Ruffles

A Reverie of Ruffles

Achieving impeccable simplicity is no easy feat—not in life nor in design. And our Asymmetric Ruffle Blouse is a case in point. For the first installment of our craft series, we delve into the construction behind this piece: its origin, why we chose this particular luxurious silk, and the subtle yet endlessly compelling details that set it apart.

Based in our New York City design studio, a team of expert designers and pattern cutters is led by chief creative officer Jonathan Saunders. The starting point for this blouse is the bias cut: cutting the fabric generously on the diagonal grain allowing it to fluidly skim the body. Saunders created the asymmetrical ruffle blouse by first draping and cutting fabric on the stand, before a highly skilled pattern maker interprets the draped toile into pattern pieces that will become a beautiful top that is both effortless and provocative.

Color is integral to every collection, and this 100% silk—or "soft satin," as we call it—retains custom-mixed dyes in a lustrous, rich hue. Soft to the touch, its has 'body' allowing the elegant ruffles to hold their soft shape and, perhaps most importantly, is perfectly suited to draping on the stand—a key element in Jonathan Saunders' design process and vision for the brand.

The garment is developed by our technical team who re-sampled the toile of the blouse in soft satin. The perfect weight of silk is chosen for the cascading ruffle trim that flutters flatteringly across the body, from shoulder to waist. A classic one-shoulder silhouette tweaked with subtle yet defining details, this blouse is proof that versatility needn’t be fussy. And that the cold shoulder can be pretty cute, too. #DVFCRAFT